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Everywhere Pep Guardiola has gone – Spain, England, Germany – success has followed. The Catalan manager has revolutionized world football with his historic spell at Barcelona and hasn’t had to look back since.
For football fans and experts all around the globe, Pep Guardiola has been the sport’s greatest visionary over the past decade. His legacy as a coach is only just behind the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Johan Cruyff and Arrigo Sacchi. However, Guardiola has age on his side as he’s still relatively new to his managerial career compared to the others.
Pep Guardiola has defined the football landscape in Europe over the last decade
Pep Guardiola has catalyzed the national football scene in each and every country he has gone to. While he was Barcelona's head coach, the Spanish national side under Vicente del Bosque hit stunning heights. La Roja went on to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup and defend their European Championship crown in 2012.
He then went on to manage Bayern Munich in Germany and success also followed the national team there. Joachim Low’s side lifted the World Cup in 2014 in Brazil and became a consistent and dominant powerhouse in Europe.
When Pep Guardiola decided to take up the job at Manchester City, people pointed fingers at him. They claimed he wouldn’t be able to shake up the way football is played in England.
Three Premier League titles in five years is quite the way to shut down detractors. Even the England national team, who have been perennial underachievers, have also benefitted. The Three Lions qualified for the semis of the 2018 World Cup and lost the Euro 2020 final on penalties since Pep Guardiola became manager at City.
Of course, he has also had the support of some of the game’s greatest players of this generation as well. From Lionel Messi and Xavi to Robert Lewandowski and Kevin De Bruyne, the careers of several world-class players have hit new heights under Guardiola’s management.
The Spaniard’s understanding of the players and maneuverability of the transfer market has also played an instrumental role in his career. Although he has been criticized for being a 'chequebook' manager recently, Pep Guardiola has made his fair share of exceptional signings without having to break the bank.
Who are the greatest signings in Pep Guardiola’s managerial career?
#5 Javier Mascherano (Liverpool to Barcelona)
Javier Mascherano was initially signed as a defensive midfielder by Barcelona from Liverpool in 2010. However, under Pep Guardiola’s tutelage Mascherano started playing in central defense and in only a few months, he was excelling in that role.
The Argentine even started the Champions League final against Manchester United that season and became a gradual replacement for the aging Carles Puyol.
Mascherano had been a loyal servant to Barcelona for several years. He made 334 appearances for the club in eight seasons and went on to win nearly everything in club football.
#4 Joshua Kimmich (Stuttgart to Bayern Munich)
It could well have been a massive risk when Bayern Munich decided to sign Joshua Kimmich. The German was playing for VfB Stuttgart in the division back then, but the move has been a blessing for both the player as well as the club.
Kimmich improved by leaps and bounds under Pep Guardiola and the duo enjoyed a successful time together at Bayern. The German continues to be at the heart of everything the Bavarian club do, even after Guardiola's departure. Undoubtedly, he could become one of the best ever at what he does if he maintains the current trajectory.
#3 Gerard Pique (Manchester United to Barcelona)
Gerard Pique was the first of Pep Guardiola’s signings as manager and what a bargain it proved to be. Despite spending four years at Manchester United after leaving La Masia, Pique never managed to break into the first team at Old Trafford.
However, on the advice of Pep Guardiola, Barcelona decided to bring him back to the Camp Nou and he went on to establish himself as a world-class centre-back.
Pique was a crucial part of the historic Barcelona and Spanish national teams. His strength, physicality and intelligence coupled with his ability to read the game and pass out from the back, made him the perfect central defender to suit Pep Guardiola’s plans.
#2 Dani Alves (Sevilla to Barcelona)
Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique all had a massive role to play in Barcelona’s defining success under Pep Guardiola. However, the system had little chance of working if not for the presence of right-back Dani Alves in the team.
Signed from Sevilla in the 2008 summer window, Alves became the engine of the side. His constant runs up and down the right flank proved to be a scorn for opposition coaches. Alves also formed a formidable partnership with Lionel Messi on the right-hand side, making it almost impossible to bog him down.
The Brazilian went on to spend eight successful seasons at Barcelona and he ended up defining the right-back position with his offensive contribution and Pep Guardiola’s tactical instructions. Now he's back for more.
#1 Robert Lewandowski (Dortmund to Bayern Munich)
Signing one of the world’s best strikers for no cost from your opposition team might sound too good to be true. But that’s exactly what happened when Robert Lewandowski decided to switch allegiances from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich.
Lewandowski’s signing would go on to inspire an immensely successful era for Bayern Munich and several of those seasons were helmed by Pep Guardiola.
Although Champions League success eluded them during that period, Lewandowski went on to score 67 goals during the two seasons he spent with Guardiola. Without the shadow of a doubt, it has been a defining signing for Bayern, with Lewandowski maturing to become one of the best strikers in the world.
